Isis' surface was covered with large translucent crystalline mountains and spires. The crystals refracted the incoming sunlight and filled the skies with countless rainbows[3]. The canyons had an average width of 750m and a height of 12,500m.[5] The crystal were rich in minerals and ores,[3] but also disrupted all communications and sensors[4], even from orbit.[6] Despite its unusual environment, the planet was hospitable to most sentient life.[3]

As the Civil War escalated, Isis became home to those who opposed the New Order, secreted away by Bail Organa. The colonists founded the city of Neskroff, the planet's only spaceport, located in a giant crystal mesa. Later engineers joined the colonists as well and the Human population soon reached over 100,000 people. The planet's natural resources were mined, refined and processed and manufactured into starfighters,[3] making about 30% of the Rebel Alliance's starfighter production capability.[7] In contrast to other safe worlds,[8] the Isis colony enjoyed a relative high level of technology, even having a starport and with several hyperspace-worthy spaceships,[9] including several squadrons[10] of X-wing and Y-wing starfighters. The DP20 frigateHandree was also based on the planet. However, due to the crystal's disrupting nature, all communication had to be transmitted via fiber-optics.[4]

The native Gutretee were mostly befriended by the colonists and learned to speak basic. Several tribes became sympathetic to the Rebel cause and helped them mining and building, but they were forbidden to ever leave the planet.[3]There were also tribes that remained outright hostile to the Rebels.[4]

The Gutretees were a crystalline, mineral-based mono-gendered species. They lived in primitive, nomadic tribal societies and had the ability to interact with the natural crystals of the planet. Their unique physiology allowed them to copy and absorb each other memories, similar to data-files.[4]

Most of the Humans on Isis were political criminals or similar refugees who had fled here with the aid of Bail Organa during the ascension of the New Order. With the continuing Civil War, more Humans from other society joined the colony.